Mikia Kalati
Matlama will be without injured star-midfielder Mabuti Potloane for at least six more weeks due to a knee operation the 29-year-old underwent in Bloemfontein last week.
The gifted playmaker was injured on national duty against Ethiopia in June this year and is yet to don Tse Putsoa’s blue-and-white strip this season.
Matlama are top of the premier league table 10 matches into the season and according to coach Moses Maliehe, the team desperately needs Potloane’s services.
“It’s a big blow to miss a player of his calibre and experience as the league is getting very tough,” Maliehe told the Lesotho Times this week.
“The sad part is that another experienced player, Pali Tšalong, is also unavailable due to work commitments.”
However, Maliehe said he was happy the operation would rectify the problematic knee for good.
On his part, Potloane said he was optimistic of a full recovery.
“I was feeling uncomfortable each time I tried to run, so hopefully, the operation is going to be a success and deal with the problem for good,” Potloane said.
“I was handled by medical professionals and they tell me the operation went very well. Right now I’m at home and following this recovery programme given to me by the doctors.”
Potloane admits the injury has been frustrating, but insists he is going to come back a stronger player.
“It’s all part of the game, but I’m confident the recovery process will go well and I will be back playing football again,” said the midfielder.
“It’s going to be a long process, but the operation was necessary because I had failed to heal since I was injured in that Nations Cup qualifier against Ethiopia back in June.”
Potloane was on loan at Matlama from Linare in the second round of last season and decided to continue his career with Tse Putsoa as he was a free agent.
